Enterprise spending on mobile data services is expected to offset declines in spending for fixed and mobile voice services, spurring an annual 2.4 percent growth rate in telecom services spending over the next couple of years, according to the latest data from Gartner.

Overall spending on telecom services is predicted to reach $1.7 trillion in 2013 and $1.74 trillion in 2014.

Mobile data services spending will represent one-third of spending on telecom services by 2016, up from 22 percent in 2012. This is the result of a surge in mobile data services spending combined with flat spending growth in other telecom services sectors, said Gartner.

Telecom services spending makes up the largest component of overall IT spending, which Gartner predicts will reach $3.7 trillion in 2013, a 4.2 percent increase from 2012 spending of $3.6 trillion.

Another component of IT spending, enterprise software, is predicted to reach $296 billion in 2013, a 6.4 percent increase from 2012. Gartner said software segment growth would be fueled by the security, storage management and customer relationship management markets. Next year, big data and other information management markets such as enterprise content management, data integration tools and data quality tools will begin to see increased levels of investment.

Gartner judges that IT spending on PCs and tablets will be lower than previously estimated, resulting in a cut in its prediction for spending on devices worldwide. Spending on devices, including tablets, mobile phones, PCs and printers, is expected to total $666 billion in 2013, down from the firm's previous estimate of $706 billion. The estimate is still a 6.3 percent increase on the 2012 device spending figure.

"Uncertainties surrounding prospects for an upturn in global economic growth are the major retardants to IT growth," concluded Richard Gordon, managing vice president at Gartner. "This uncertainty has caused the pessimistic business and consumer sentiment throughout the world. However, much of this uncertainty is nearing resolution, and as it does, we look for accelerated spending growth in 2013 compared to 2012."

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